TOLLS have become a necessary evil and as the years go by, it is inevitable that toll prices will increase like everything else.

While I may not welcome the review of major tolls, it will only be fair to say that any hike has to be commensurate with the services provided.

If the toll road provides a smooth and efficient ride, slight increases in costs will be acceptable because as they say time is money.

Eventually at some stage, subsidies would have to give way to a freer market economy. The longer we are held by these crutches, the harder it will be in the future. What the government should remember is that the toll hike has to be reasonable, especially for the lower-income groups, underprivileged and retirees.

I also hope the government can help monitor prices of essential goods and services which will almost certainly be triggered by a toll hike.
 

Liew Jing Yan
Ampang

Source: The Sun – March 10, 2010